EDMOND —
When area students are partying during spring break this next week, metro law enforcement officers will be targeting illegal underage drinking. Spring break in Edmond and Deer Creek will be from March 18-22.
The Oklahoma County Metro Alcohol Task Force consists of the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office and police deparatments in Bethany, Forest Park and Midwest City. Deer Creek is under the jurisdiction of the sheriff’s office.
Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel said the agencies will work together and conduct compliance checks of liquor/convenience stores, bar checks, identification checks and party patrols.
“Underage drinking is a serious problem in Oklahoma,” Whetsel said. “Across Oklahoma in 2011 there were 36 underaged drinking drivers who were killed or incapacitated.”
Whetsel said the task force members are also warning social hosts. If members find adults hosting parties for underage students they will be held accountable under the law as well.
The task force activities are kicking off during Spring Break, which is next week for most students.
Traffic safety supervisor Lt. Dan Stow said last year members interrupted a party of about 200 students and found one who was passed outside in a ditch and likely would have died with freezing temperatures.
Whetsel said it’s been three years since the task force was created, and they have seen 90 percent of businesses comply with not selling alcohol to minors.
Regarding underage drinking:
• Oklahoma ranks seventh in percentage of alcohol consumed by minors, according to the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office;
• In 2010 state taxpayers paid $831 million in youth-related alcohol drinking issues such as traffic crashes, violence, health, treatment, property crimes, according to the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation;
• 72 percent of Oklahoma high school students have consumed alcohol; and
• In 2009 minors consumed 20.4 percent of alcohol sold in Oklahoma.
marks@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 108
Local News
Cops target spring break underage drinking
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Like other Oklahomans, Edmond Police Detective Marion Cain was keeping an eye on the weather Monday.
The storm, which produced the tornado began at 2:45 p.m., about 4.4 miles west of Newcastle and its 20-mile long path went through Newcastle, Moore and south Oklahoma City. About 10 minutes after it formed, it was already causing EF4 damage. Maximum winds of the tornado, upgraded to an EF5, were 200-210 mph, according to information released at 2:50 p.m. Tuesday by the National Weather Service. Its estimated maximum width was 1.3 miles. -
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Below is a listing of where donations may be taken in the Edmond area to help the Moore/Oklahoma tornado victims:
• The Edmond Sun is serving as a drop-off location for the downtown Edmond area. Supplies only may be dropped off at 123 S. Broadway and residents may use the backdoor to enter the building. Parking is available behind the building at the Festival Market Place. From 5-10 p.m. donations may be taken to Café Evoke, 103 S. Broadway.
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Sometimes good things come from texting.
Monday afternoon, Sydney Richardson, who will be Santa Fe’s student body president next year, was driving home and it was raining. Once home, she talked to her mother, who told her about the tornado in Moore. Then she began seeing the damage on TV.
“It was devastating,” Richardson said. “We watched it all night long. I just felt like we needed to do something immediately.” -
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The City of Edmond’s Field Services Division of Public Works will be collecting storm-related debris from the May 19 tornado in accordance with the City of Edmond’s Emergency Operation Plan’s Level Two Response.
Affected areas where debris pick up will occur include in the area beginning one-half mile south of 15th Street to 33rd Street and from Boulevard Avenue east to I-35; and the Territories and Timberlake additions. Please see the map for clarification. Pick up is available for residential homes located within the designated boundaries.
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Tuesday Ashley Cunningham, office manager for Red Dirt Septic on Waterloo Road in Edmond, and Mark Webb, owner of the Armor Vault Tornado Shelter in Oklahoma City, said their phones have been ringing consistently starting Monday afternoon. -
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